Revision of the Neotropical Obscure Genus Ebenia Macquart 1846 (Diptera, Tachinidae, Dufouriini).

ABSTRACT

The Neotropical genus Ebenia Macquart, 1846, is a member of the tribe Dufouriini (Dexiinae), and before the current work, comprised four species, viz. E. claripennis Macquart 1846, E. fumata (Wulp, 1891), E. neofumata Santis & Nihei, 2022 and E. trichopoda (Wulp, 1891). The present taxonomic revision results in a new generic synonymy Comyops Wulp, 1891 syn. nov. of Ebenia. The following two new combinations result from this act E. nigripennis (Wulp, 1891) comb. nov. and E. striaticollis (Wulp, 1891) comb. nov. both originally described in Comyops. In addition, the species originally described as Homodexia spinosa Bigot, 1889 is moved from its current placement in Thelairodes Wulp, 1891 to Ebenia as Ebenia spinosa (Bigot, 1889) comb. nov. A new specific synonymy is proposed for this last species Morinia trichopoda Wulp, 1891, previously treated as a valid species of Ebenia, becomes a junior synonym of E. spinosa. All valid species are redescribed and photographed with the first description and illustration of the male terminalia for E. claripennis, E. neofumata and E. nigripennis and female terminalia for E. spinosa. Additionally, lectotype fixations are made for E. nigripennis and M. trichopoda. Finally, an updated diagnosis for the genus Ebenia and a key to the six known species are provided.